Laterally adjustable bed frame



June 26, 1951 G. w. PEARCE LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE BED FRAME 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1946 3nventor w e n r o u a June 26, 1951 r G. w. PEARCE 2,553,525

LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE BED FRAME Filed Nov. 9, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F lq' .2 J U ZSnventor Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE BED FRAME George W. Pearce, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to A. .l. Logan Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 9, 1946, Serial No.-708,989

' 2 Claims. l

This invention relates to bed frames .and, in particular, to frames adjustable to different widths.

Prior adjustable frames have been complicated and difficult to operate, and their structure has been such that the expansion of the frame tends to weaken the support which the frame gives to the bed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a bed frame which can be expanded to different widths quickly and easily, which provides equally strong support at any width, and which is sturdy, rugged, simple of construction, inexpensive, and easily adjusted.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in. the accompanying drawings, of which Figs. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, are plan, end and side views of the bed frame, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the cross arms.

According to this invention, a bed frame is provided which has, as-usual, side members, cross members and legs. The side members rest on or are otherwise supported by the outer ends of the cross members and are connected thereto. The cross members are formed of a plurality of pairs of inwardly extending cross arms, the free ends of which are associated so as to be mutually slidable in order to render the frame adjustable laterally.

A major feature of the invention is that the legs are positioned beneath the cross arms at or near their outer ends, and preferably they are attached thereto. Another important feature is that the frame is provided at or closely adjacent to the legs with means extending upwardly from the plane of the upper surface of the frame. The spring of the bed, which can be of any standard type, rests on these upwardly extending members with the result that substantially all of the weight of the spring and the occupant of the bed is translated directly to the legs of the bed frame. Thus, the cross arms are relieved of the weight and, even though the width is expanded, the bed frame remains strong. Preferably, the cross members are connected to the side rails by bolts and the legs connected to the cross members by screens which have their heads projecting thereabove so that the spring rests on the upwardly extending heads.

Referring to the drawings, a pair of side rails I rest on the outer ends of cross members 2 which carry downwardly projecting legs 3 that are positioned just interiorly of the side rails. Preferably, a bracket 4, formed of a horizontal angle 6 and a vertically extending channel I, is bolted or otherwise connected to' the head end of the side rails, channel 1 being adapted to removably receive the customary head board of the bed. Bolts 8 having wing nuts 9 extend through openings in the side members and cross members to secure the connections of these members and, at the head end of the frame, also extend through openings in angle 6 to clamp it in position. Bolts Ii] further secure the attachment of the bracket, as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, the cross members comprise a pair of arms II that extend inwardly toward each other from their attachment, as by bolts 8, with the side rail members, each being provided with a transverse slot l2, Fig. 4. The free end of each arm is provided with an opening It! to receive a bolt I4 which extends through the slot l2 in the other associated arm of the pair. Each of the bolts is capped with a wing nut l5 which, when tightened, clamp the arms together in any desired position, and, when loosened permit the arms to be pulled apart or pushed together a distance equal to the length of the channels to vary the width of the frame.

As is apparent, the extension of the frame ordinarily would result in a considerable reduction of the support which the frame provides for the weight of the bed. However, due to the manner in which the frame of this invention supports the spring of the bed, there is no such consequent weakening. Accordingly, legs 3 are attached to cross arms H by means of screws I6 which extend downwardly through the cross arms and into the legs. The screws have heads ll and, when the screws are completely driven into position, extend upwardly of the plane of the upper surface of the cross arms. Thus, when the spring for the bed is operatively positioned, it will rest on heads I! instead of on cross arms l2 and the side rails and the weight of the spring, in addition to the weight of the occupants of the bed, is supported directly by the screw heads and is translated through the screws to the legs of the frame. The legs, preferably, are short and sturdy so as to provide adequate support for the weight which they receive. Since the cross arms themselves do not support the spring, their extension will not affect the strength of the frame.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle, construction and mode of operation of the invention and have illustrated and described what now is considered to be its best embodiment. However,

it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced by other forms than those specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A laterally-adjustable bed frame comprising laterally adjustable cross members, a pair of side rails resting upon the outer ends of said cross members, means rigidly securing together said cross members and side rails, legs positioned beneath each end of said cross members immediately adjacent the inner face of said side rails, means rigidly securing together said cross members and said legs, and lugs disposed above each of said legs in close proximity to said side rails, said lugs projecting upwardly above the upper surface of said cross members and being provided with substantially flat top faces adapted to provide a firm support for a bedspring and thereby relieve said laterally-adjustable cross members and said side rails of the spring load, said load being translated through said lugs to said legs.

2. A laterally-adjustable bed frame comprising laterally adjustable cross members, a pair of side rails resting upon the extreme outer ends of said cross members, means rigidly securing together said cross members and side rails, legs positioned beneath each end of said cross members immediately adjacent the inner face of said side rails, and means rigidly securing together said cross members and said legs, each of said means being substantially axially aligned with said legs and having a head portion projecting upwardly above the upper surface of said cross members, said head portions having substantially flat top faces adapted to provide a firm support for a bedspring and thereby relieve said laterally-adjustable cross members and said side rails of the spring load, said load being translated through said head portions to said legs.

GEORGE W. PEARCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 100,133 Evarts Feb. 22, 1870 168,342 Ogborn et a1 Oct. 5, 1875 711,551 Betts Oct. 21, 1902 788,392 Bradley Apr. 25, 1905 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,558,625 June 26, 1951 GEORGE W. PEARCE It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

' Column 1, line 47, for screens read screws;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. Signed and sealed this 18th day of September, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant C'ommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

